Test – Scythe Mugen Max : Specs | CPU | Hashrate | Review | Config

Hi all !

It’s been some time now that Conseil Config had nothing to chew on with regard to the coolers, the last being the test of the Noctua NH-D15. Scythe was kind enough to send the latest, the Mugen MAX! After a Mugen 4 which is an excellent one, especially the PCGH edition version (tested here) equipped with 2 fans.
The Scythe Mugen Max meanwhile is a slightly modified version of the Mugen 4, it is wider, memory compatibility is excellent thanks to an asymmetric assembly, the fan goes from 120mm to 140mm and there is now the presence of a plate below the cooler which will give it a more fashionable look!

If the Mugen Max is an improved version of the Mugen 4 the performance should be there, that’s what we’ll see!

As usual, Scythe signs a colorful box but is not shielded with marketing arguments, only a photo of the cooler accompanied by its name and saying that the cooler is compatible with the 1150 socket (still happy 🙂).

On the sides are the technical information about the cooler, the dimensions, the information about the fan etc.

By opening the box we find a small foam placed on top of the cooler to prevent the latter from scratching, once the foam has been removed there is the cooler partitioned in cardboard as well as the fan and the bundle (in a box).

So here is the beast! Made up of 6 heatpipes like its little brother the Mugen 4, it is imposing and very well finished, as usual at Scythe.

Here is Scythe’s answer concerning memory compatibility which is often mentioned (rightly so) when dealing with a cooler of a respectable size. Scythe decided to shift the cooler in order to have the necessary space to put the fan and then have free rein for the memory modules, like this:

As we can see the Mugen Max leaves the field free to all types of memories! No more anxiety when buying a cooler, wondering whether or not we can mount it with the 10cm bars purchased for their design!

The top plate is the most beautiful effect with the Scythe logo in the center, sober and efficient!

The underside of the cooler, the base is very well polished like its little brother the Mugen 4! Now let’s move on to the bundle.

The fan supplied with the Scythe Mugen Max is a GlideStream 140 PWM running at a maximum of 1300 RPM, it should be very pleasing to the ear when you know the brand’s fans. He is dressed all in black to continue in sobriety.

The bundle consists of:

• 1 ventilateur GlideStream 140 PWM (1300 RPM Max)
• 1 kit de fixation Intel (Socket 775 1150 1155 1156 1366 2011)
• 1 kit de fixation AMD (Socket AM2 AM2+ AM3 AM3+ FM1 FM2 FM2+)
• 1 installation manual
• 4 fan clips
• 1 sachet of thermal paste
• The screws required for the various fixing kits

We can see that the Mugen MAX bundle is rather classic, no tricks here but you will have everything you need to install the cooler as well as the necessary fixings if you add another fan.

The Mugen Max’s specs are very good on paper, it’s average weight, the dimensions are quite generous and there might be a problem with the first PCI-e port next to the socket.

The GlideStream 140 PWM fan has a fairly large operating range and will therefore certainly be quiet at low revs and audible at high revs although it shouldn’t be a fighter plane, far from it!
On the other hand, its price is excellent for a cooler of this size and if the performance is good it can really be an excellent alternative to the Thermalright Macho, long king of the category of coolers at 40 €, we will see that below!

Mounting

The assembly is rather simple, just put the back plate like this:

Then we place the white discs:

We then place the screw that will attach the back plate:

Once the 4 are in place, you have to place the 2 plates that will be used to fix the cooler itself over these same screws, you have to be careful to place the screws in the correct hole (there are 3 locations for 3 sockets different), for socket 1150 1155 1156 it is the middle one:

When the 2 plates are placed, you must of course not forget to put a little thermal paste on the processor, and when I say a little it is really a little, as below:

Now we finally move on to the placement of the cooler on the processor, do not forget to remove the protective film under the cooler and to place it so as to have the “short” side of the cooler on the memory side in order to take advantage flawless memory compatibility:

Once you have placed the cooler like this you have to put the fixing bar at the base of the cooler and start screwing, be careful however you have to proceed alternately and especially not screw a screw as far as possible and then pass on the other under penalty of having completely delusional temperatures:

Now we go to the fan, just use the 2 clips provided for this purpose, and your cooler is ready to be used:

Attention: As I said above the width of the cooler could perhaps prevent the use of the first PCI-e port, if you have a 16x PCI-e port there, the use of a graphics card will be impossible because the Mugen MAX is really too close:

In my case the installation of the graphics card was impossible because the screws of the cooler of the graphics card were touching the Mugen MAX.

Memory compatibility

The question that arises every time when buying a cooler, does the Mugen MAX keep its promises in terms of memory compatibility? Let’s see!

A faultless! The Mugen MAX will accommodate any type of memory, from the smallest to the largest!

The test platform

The Scythe Mugen MAX has been tested on the following configurations:

• Processor: Intel Core i7 875K @ 3,2 Ghz
• Motherboard: Asus P7P55D
• Memory: Kingston HyperX 4 x 2 Go 1600Mhz
• Hard disk: WD Raptor 150 Go
• Graphic card: Sapphire Toxic 5850
• Food: Seasonic X650

The test protocol

The core i7 875K has been slightly overclocked to 3.2Ghz. The temperatures under load are an average of all the cores for 3 tests of 30 minutes on OCCT, the temperatures at rest were taken after 15mins on the desk (still an average of the 4 cores).

The cooler has been tested against Scythe Mugen 4 PCGH, be quiet! Dark Rock 3, Noctua NH-U14S and the Thermalright HR01 (equipped with a Nexus real silent 120 fan) on the Core i7 875K. Note that the readings are repeated each time because with changes in ambient temperature would give erroneous results.

The temperatures

The performance of the Scythe Mugen Max is very good, with only 4 ° difference compared to the NH-U14S in 12V it will be able to cool a processor very well. In 5V on the other hand, the performances take a hit even if the processor always remains at an acceptable new level, it is not really made to cool a processor at very low speed! At the same time at 5V the fan turns at 500 RPM so the air is not really stirred much.

Noise pollution

Attention : Part to be taken with a grain of salt, unfortunately not having access to the appropriate equipment and using an android application to take the readings the measurements below are only indicative! The readings were taken 15cm from the cooler.

At the very least, the Scythe Mugen Max is very quiet and it will not bother you too much, only a slight noise of the motor is heard when you stick your ear on it, nothing serious however because this noise disappears immediately once the ear at 50 cm.
On the other hand, the fan will not be forgotten, it cannot be qualified as silent but only the circulated air is heard, there will be no engine noise or friction which is still to be noted. .

Here we are at the end of this test, what to say about this Scythe Mugen Max?
Scythe has always sold well-finished products that perform well but above all are very affordable, the Mugen Max is no exception to the rule. At the bad points it is quite noisy at full blast and the cooling capacity at low speed is quite limited. On the other hand, it is capable of maximum good performance, assembly is easy, memory compatibility is excellent and the price (€ 36 excl. Tax, I remind you) will delight people who are not ready to mortgage their house to pay for a cooler ” premium ”.

To summarize, I would say that the bet is once again won for Scythe with a powerful, well-finished and affordable cooler, an option not to be overlooked if you are looking for a cooler for your gamer config.

A big thank you to Matthias from Scythe who allowed me to do this test.

Where to find the Scythe Mugen Max?

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